A major influence on my early narrow gauge modelling was the Craig and Mertonford Railway as described in P D Hancock’s book “Narrow Gauge Adventure”. Like the FCPyF the C&MR changed noticeably over the years but perhaps my favourite version was where the engine shed at Craig had a graveyard of scrap loco parts behind it. I’d like to pay homage to this when the time comes to add details to Grande, the area between the coaling stage and the back door of the engine shed will be perfect for collecting such odds and ends.

But it’s not just the loco parts that will be rusting away, the buildings themselves are corrugated iron and in serious need of a lick of paint! Actually that’s not true, they’re corrugated cardboard and I think I’ve overdone the rust coloured paint on the loco shed roof. It has gone soggy, hopefully it’ll regain some of its shape as the paint dries but if it doesn’t I’ll have to strip it down and start again.

Looking the other way, diesel #29 and railcar #22 lurk in the gloom of the shed while #10 sits on the short spur to the side of them.

I’ll sign off this post with another comparison with Katy’s photo of Tacna. Turntable and loco shed on the left, station on the right, carriage shed in the distance.

Again it’s not meant to be a model of the real place, the FCTA is standard gauge, the FCPyF version is just taking on some of the atmosphere.